Dexter by Design | Page 7

F re nch, p ops th e e ar b ud b ack in , a nd o pens th e d oor to th e b us.
I fo llo w R ita o ff th e b us, m eek, h um ble , a nd m ild ly d is a ppoin te d.
It h a d s e em ed li k e s uch a s im ple th in g to m ake a s o le m n s to p a t th e R ue M org ue , to p ay m y r e sp ects to a n im porta nt c ult u ra l la nd m ark in th e
world o f M onste rs , b ut it is n o t to b e. I re peat th e q ue stio n la te r, to a ta xi d riv e r, a nd re ce iv e th e s a m e a nsw er, a nd R ita in te rp re ts w ith a
so m ew ha t e m barra sse d s m ile .
“D exte r,” s he s a ys . “ Y o ur p ro nuncia tio n is te rrib le .”
“I m ig ht d o b ette r in S panis h,” I s a y.
“It w ould n't m atte r,” s he s a ys . “ T he re is n o R ue M org ue .”
“W ha t? ”
“It 's im agin a ry ,” s he s a ys . “ E dgar A lle n P oe m ade it u p . T he re is n o r e al R ue M org ue .”
I fe el li k e s he h a s ju st a nno unce d th e re is n o S anta C la us. N o R ue M org ue ? N o h a ppy h is to ric a l p ile o f P aris ia n c o rp se s? H ow c a n th is b e?
But it is c e rta in to b e tr u e . T he re is n o q ue stio nin g R ita 's k no w le dge o f P aris . S he h a s s p ent to o m any y e ars w ith to o m any g uid ebooks fo r a ny
possib ili ty o f a m is ta ke .
And s o I s li d e b ack in to m y s he ll o f d um b c o m pli a nce , th e tin y fli c ke r o f in te re st k ille d a s d ead a s D exte r's c o nscie nce .
With o nly th re e d ays le ft b efo re w e fly b ack h o m e to th e b le sse d m ali c e a nd m ayh e m o f M ia m i, w e c o m e to o ur F ull D ay A t T he L ouvre . T his
is s o m eth in g th a t h a s ra is e d m ild in te re st e ve n in m e; ju st b eca use I h a ve n o s o ul d oes n o t m ean I d on't a ppre cia te a rt. Q uite th e